Treadmills remain the most popular exercise machine available today. Buying a treadmill can be costly, but it's a highly advantageous purchase that provides a myriad of health benefits. Treadmills allow users to train for a wide range of sports or activities. They keep endurance up, burn significant amounts of calories, and can help you efficiently maintain your weight. A high-quality treadmill can provide a safe and fun way for the whole family to start and stay on the path to a healthy lifestyle. It's very important to choose a treadmill that can lead you toward your specific fitness goals, as well as sustain its performance through the amount of use you will give it. So buy accordingly.

A treadmill is only as good as its motor; the larger and heavier the motor, the longer the treadmill will last.

Motorized treadmills have one motor that drives the belt and another (the lift motor) that raises and lowers the running bed to create an incline

Motors allow you to set the pace for your workout so you can stay on track

Treadmill Duty versus Continuous Duty*

Continuous duty: This is the amount of continuous motor power that is consistently delivered during heavy usage over an extended period of time.

Treadmill duty is the amount of power output at which the motor is rated. These motors are specifically designed for treadmill usage.

Horsepower

Horsepower is the measurement of power of a treadmill motor; manufacturers use two measurements for horsepower: continuous and peak

Continuous horsepower is how powerful a treadmill can continually operate without dropping off

Peak horsepower is the maximum horsepower a treadmill can generate for a short period of time

Since peak horsepower is usually significantly higher than a motor's continuous capability, continuous horsepower better helps you determine which treadmill will accommodate your intended exercise use

Generally speaking, the larger the motor the more powerful it can operate at a continuous rate

You should look for a treadmill that indicates at least a 1.5 continuous duty horsepower motor for runners and a 1.0 for joggers and walkers

Use the chart below to help you select the right motor based on your intended use:

Choosing the Right Motor

Your Workout

Recommended Horsepower

Walking or light jogging

1.0 hp - 1.5 continuous hp

Running

1.5 hp - 2.0 continuous hp

Incline

Incline raises the treadmill's running bed for increased resistance

Treadmill incline mimics walking or running up hills, making your workout more challenging, burning more calories and further increasing muscle tone

Manual incline means you change the incline yourself; this is usually offered in 4 different placements, such as 3% incline, 5% incline, 7% incline and 9% incline; treadmills with manual incline are less expensive than those with powered incline

Power incline offers you automatic adjustment so you can change the incline while you're walking/running to add variety and challenge to your workout; most treadmills offer a powered incline from 0%-10%

Powered incline is inarguably more convenient and easier to use

Belts/Decks

The thicker the deck, the more cushioning and comfort it offers your legs/joints

Look for new proprietary deck cushioning systems designed to provide superior comfort and impact absorption during walks and runs

Belts vary in length, depending on whether the unit is geared more for walkers/joggers or runners.

Belt widths range from 16 inches to 22 inches, while lengths vary from about 45 inches to 60 inches

They offer you a variety of workouts and difficulty levels to maintain your interest

Emergency Shut-Off

Many treadmills have an emergency switch that stops the machine should you fall off of it or get too tired to continue. Some also can only be turned on with special keys or an electronic code, allowing you to control who uses it.

Space Savers

If space is a concern, look for a smaller model or for a model that folds up for storage when not being used

Many models fold up so you can slide them into a corner or out of the way